2001 Draft Profile: Mark Popovic
There may not be any defenseman in the 2001 draft as solid in his own
zone as Mark Popovic. The St. Mike’s defenseman is amazingly steady. He’s
always in position taking care of his man. He also is a steady offensive
player. I mean he insn’t Brian Leetch or Nick Lidstrom but he is solid in
the offensive zone as well.
At 6’1 , 195 he isn’t the biggest defenseman in
the draft , but he plays a lot bigger. He is not a goon or a tough guy , but
he certainly will bang and take the body to help out his team in any
situation.
There seems to be a different set of opinions, as to where
Popovic will go in the draft. He will be a first round pick. Yet he might go
as high as about 10 or so, or he could drop closer to 20. All depends who’s
left and who has the current picks at the present time. Yet nobody doubt’s
Popovic’s ability to play in the NHL very soon. He might be the closer to
being NHL ready then any other defenseman in the field. Someone will get
Popovic and some franchise will be very happy. Expect his steady game to be
on the blueline of a NHL franchise for a long long time.
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